Protection/Psychosocial Counselor , Kigoma , Tanzania

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) IRC Tanzania is present in the Kigoma Region, Northwestern Tanzania, providing services to refugees and host communities. Approximately 155,000 refugees, the vast majority from Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) receive protection and basic assistance in the areas of Child and Youth Protection and Development, Community Based Rehabilitation for persons with disabilities and special needs, and Gender Based Violence / Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE). In addition, IRC also does child protection work in the host communities surrounding the camps, in Tanga region and in Dar es Salaam.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) seeks to recruit qualified, energetic and committed candidate for the post of National Education Manager.

The IRC provides basic primary health services, food, water and shelter at the transit centre in Kigoma for protection cases awaiting durable solutions and refugees from Nyarugusu camp coming to the transit centre on resettlement processes. At a given time, the centre can receive upto 800 individuals on resettlement in addition to the long staying residents. While residents receive basic services, there has been little to no attention on the emotional wellbeing of transit centre residents. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support is a critical need in any given population to function and meaningfully participate both at the community, household or personal level. Proper mental health services reduce risks, promote resilience and aid recovery of the affected populations. The transit centre residents are not allowed to leave the centre without authorization thus adding to the high levels of emotional problems and conflicts within the centre with limited to no specialized psychosocial support services for people to vent out.

Scope of work
Under the supervision of the health team leader in Kigoma and receives technical support from Community mental health and psychosocial support manager, the position holder will provide confidential and competent psychosocial support services for promotion of psychological wellbeing  to transit centre residents


Position:                       Protection/Psychosocial Counselor (01 post)
Reporting to:               Health Team Leader
Location:                      Kigoma

Key Responsibilities

• Provide confidential and competent psychosocial support services to transit centre residents based on the following humanitarian principles of;
 Humanity; Human suffering must be addressed whenever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings.
 Neutrality; Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature
 Impartiality; Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress and making no distinctions on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinions.
 Independence; Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actors may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented
 Ensure clients case files are ethically documented, stored and information shared on a need to know basis in the context of providing a service with the consent of the clients .All files must be kept in lockable cabinets to ensure safety of client’s information.
 Provide case management and resiliency-based mental health care. Some clients may require a relatively more targeted mental health care from an expert (e.g. when survivors are not improving according to a care plan, or when caseworkers have reason to believe survivors may be at risk of hurting themselves or someone else),consult with experts in the team for more support and refer as appropriate
 Provide psycho education to transit centre residents; Clients may also wish to access legal/justice support and police protection. Providing information to clients in an ethical, safe and confidential manner about their rights and options to report risk and access care is a key responsibility for this position.
 Provide psychological first aid. Psychological first aid (PFA) describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support. Providing PFA responsibly means to respect safety, dignity and rights, adapt what you do to take account of the person’s culture, be aware of other emergency response measures and look after yourself.
 Implement the three basic action principles of PFA —look, listen and link how clients view and safely enter a crisis situation, approach affected people and understand their needs, and link them with practical support and information.
 Look; Check for safety, check for people with obvious urgent basic needs, check for people with serious distress reactions
 Listen; Approach people who may need support. Ask about people’s needs and concerns, listen to people, and help them to feel calm.
 Link; Help people address basic needs and access services, help people cope with problems, give information, connect people with services and advocate with relevant actors/staff to bring about positive change in the lives of transit centre residents
 Organize community-based approaches to psychosocial support; insists that affected populations should be leaders and key partners in developing strategies related to their assistance and protection. All those affected should “participate in making decisions that affect their lives” and have “a right to information and transparency” from those providing assistance at the transit centre.
 Participate in orientation of new arrivals to explain psychosocial support services available at the transit centre in collaboration with the transit centre supervisor and health staff
 Prepare quality activity reports, monthly and donor reports and participate in proposal development as required

Requirements
 Bachelor degree in clinical psychology or mental health/counseling courses. Diploma holders with extensive work experience will also be considered. Experience on refugee operations a plus
 Experience from working in multicultural refugee camps and settings
 Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative required
 Good IT skills: knowledge of MS Word; Excel and Outlook required.
 Swahili and good English written and oral skills required.  French a plus.
 Ability to handle multiple tasks and have excellent problem solving abilities.
 Team player, excellent personal and cooperation skills are essential
 Proven record of conducting group therapy sessions for different age groups
 Must be available and willing to work at irregular hours and on weekends as the situation and schedule may require.

How to apply:
Applications for the position must include:
i. A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position against the listed requirements.
ii. Detailed curriculum vitae showing contact address, email, and day-time mobile phone number(s) and three (3) referees, ONE being your last employer.
iii. ONLY copies of academic and professional certificates.

Applications will be considered valid if sent/received before 1700hrs Monday, March 7th, 2016. Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Send your application to agnes.abdi@rescue.org

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.  IRC is an equal opportunity employer.